Frontiers of QCD with Precision nPDFs

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and the development of the new nCTEQ15 nuclear parton distribution functions, highlighting their importance for precision physics and future measurements.

Contribution

It introduces the nCTEQ15 PDFs incorporating recent theoretical progress in analyzing proton and nuclear PDFs across all kinematic regions.

Findings

Enhanced understanding of QCD in extreme kinematic regions

Development of the nCTEQ15 nuclear PDFs

Identification of future research directions in QCD

Abstract

Searches for new physics will increasingly depend on identifying deviations from precision Standard Model (SM) predictions. Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) will necessarily play a central role in this endeavor as it provides the framework for the parton model. However, as we move to higher orders and into extreme kinematic regions, we begin to see the full complexities of the QCD theory. Recent theoretical developments improve our ability to analyze both proton and nuclear PDFs across the full kinematic range. These developments are incorporated into the new nCTEQ15 PDFs, and we review these developments with respect to future measurements, and identify areas where additional effort is required.